Although the parking lot at the Westminster Senior and Community Center was full of voters trying to find a spot Monday afternoon, the 20-minute wait was pretty light, election staff said. By just after 5 p.m., 1,901 Carroll County residents had cast their vote Monday in 2016 general election early voting. Statewide for Monday, that number was 87,769 by shortly after 5:30 p.m., Heather Norris of the Carroll County Times reports.

ADVICE ON SETTING BAIL: Maryland’s chief District Court judge has issued “cautionary advice” for judges and commissioners on setting bail, after an opinion by Maryland’s attorney general said the state’s system of holding defendants because they can’t afford bail likely would be found unconstitutional, reports Justin Fenton for the Sun. The letter instructs judges to impose the “least onerous” conditions on a defendant if the judge determines the person can’t be released on his own recognizance.

SCHOOL FUNDING, ED EXCELLENCE: The just-started Commission on Innovation and Excellence in Education has been described as largely about rejiggering school funding in Maryland, but commission chair Brit Kirwan told members Monday that, “Our charge is much, much broader than money. Equally important is how we spend the money.” Len Lazarick writes that Kirwan added, “We want Maryland to have the best schools for our children.”

HARRIS POISED TO RISE IN HOUSE: Rep. Andy Harris wants House Republicans to use an upcoming debt-ceiling deadline to force more fiscal restraint. And for the first time in his congressional career, the Baltimore County lawmaker could have considerable influence to make it happen. Harris, in his third term in the House, is running to be chairman of the Republican Study Committee, a 173-member caucus that has worked since the 1970s to pull the House of Representatives to the right on fiscal and social issues, John Fritze reports for the Sun.

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Bill to hike minimum wage heads to Gov. Hogan’s desk as he promises ‘careful review’ of legislation he has said could devastate Maryland economy; senators moved forward on a $46.6 billion budget plan; Speaker Busch promises legislation to overhaul UMMS board of directors as UMMS leaders meet with top officials and promise changes to restore confidence in board; Mayor Pugh returns $100,000 to UMMS, calls inquiry into book deal a ‘witch hunt,’ refuses to show tax documents; Senate also approves bill setting new goals on state use of clean energy; despite its ban on fracking, Maryland has become a gateway to move fracked gas around the world; Green, Libertarian parties lose state recognition; and if state funds come through, construction of Laurel ‘super track’ could begin in fall.